Downhole Internal Packer for Casing Isolation During BHA Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drilling technologies lack a reliable method to isolate the casing interior during removal of the bottom hole assembly, risking well kicks or blowouts due to reduced pressure, and there is no equipment to prevent internal casing blowouts.
Innovation Solution
A downhole sealing device that includes an internal packer or flapper valve, which can be actuated upon removal of the bottom hole assembly to isolate the casing interior, allowing multiple removals while maintaining blowout protection, and can be drilled out or reset upon reinsertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the bottom hole assembly is removed for maintenance or operation changes, then the assembly can be serviced or repositioned, but the well pressure decreases and creates risk of well kick or blowout
Solution Approach 1:
The packer is pre-positioned in the casing interior above the bottom hole assembly, ready to be deployed immediately upon removal of the assembly. This preliminary positioning ensures that pressure control is established before the harmful effect (well kick) can occur, resolving the contradiction between ease of removal and pressure control reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The packer acts as an intermediary device between the casing interior and the wellbore. When deployed, it creates an isolation barrier that mediates the pressure differential, allowing the bottom hole assembly to be removed while maintaining well pressure control through the packer-casing-wellbore interface.
2Reliability
If standard casing blowout preventers are used to close the annulus, then surface blowout protection is provided, but there is no equipment to isolate the casing interior against internal blowouts
Solution Approach 1:
The blowout protection system is segmented into two independent functions: surface blowout prevention (providing by external blowout preventers) and internal casing isolation (providing by the deployable packer). This segmentation allows each component to specialize, with the packer specifically addressing internal isolation that was previously unaddressed.
Solution Approach 2:
The packer device provides multi-functionality by serving both as a pressure control mechanism during bottom hole assembly removal and as an internal blowout prevention device. This universal device addresses multiple well control scenarios, enhancing the system's adaptability without requiring separate specialized equipment for each function.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the bottom hole assembly is removed multiple times for different operations, then operational flexibility is improved, but the risk of repeated pressure loss and blowout increases
Solution Approach 1:
The packer is pre-positioned and ready for immediate deployment with each removal operation. This preliminary readiness ensures consistent pressure control across multiple operations, as the isolation mechanism is always prepared before the bottom hole assembly is removed, regardless of how many times it has been removed previously.
Solution Approach 2:
The packer deployment system is designed to be self-activating upon bottom hole assembly removal. The mechanical action of removing the assembly automatically triggers packer deployment, ensuring consistent and reliable pressure control without requiring manual intervention or complex control systems for each repeated operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides reliable internal casing isolation during bottom hole assembly removal and reinsertion, preventing well kicks and blowouts, and is applicable in various drilling operations such as sidetracking, fracturing, and gravel packing, eliminating the need to kill the well with mud.
Implementation Method 1
This packer can be actuated in a variety of ways such as hydrostatically
Implementation Method 2
a flapper valve can be installed in the casing and held open until removal of the bottom hole assembly at which time a spring can urge it to a closed position
Data Source
AI summary
A sealing device for downhole use, one of which is for casing, when drilling with casing, which allows the casing to be closed off if the bottom hole assembly needs to come out for any reason. In one embodiment, the internal packer is triggered to set in a variety of ways upon removal of the bottom hole assembly. It can be drilled out when the new bottom hole assembly is run in later. In an alternative design, a flapper can be used that is held open for the initial insertion of the bottom hole assembly and is released to spring shut upon removal of the assembly. Multiple flappers or packers or other types of closure devices are envisioned to allow removal of the bottom hole assembly more than once and still retain blowout protection on each removal of the bottom hole assembly. A variety of applications are contemplated some of which are perforation, side tracking, fracturing, and gravel packing, to name a few examples.